His Fairy Share

by Meghan Maslow

  New housing stretched as far as the eye could see, though the old city endured. The older parts spread out from the docks, while the newer areas surrounded the old, sprawling outward like a mass of tentacles. From the city, we could look up the mountain to where the citadel sat. The mountain housed no other buildings and had been cleared of all but the lowest brush.

  Soon after we’d left the citadel’s defensive walls behind, we’d stopped being accosted by amorous witches. What a blessed relief! Townsfolk didn’t seem to notice me at all, though more than one person gave Twig a wary glance.

  Temples seemed to have sprung up on every corner, in both the new and older parts of the Lower Isle. Colorful banners announcing various religious festivals and activities seemed more numerous than I recalled.

  Twig followed me down alleyways and narrow streets. Sometimes paths cut through people’s yards. I didn’t have time to go by the main roads. I had to stop at my parents’ place, make sure of Zak’s safety—and give him an earful if it turned out as Cora predicted. He could have forced Twig’s shift, and that would have caused all sorts of trouble.

  Two blocks from my old neighborhood a dark plume of smoke rose into the air before us.

  “That’s weird . . .”

  Twig and I exchanged glances. He tugged on his braid. “You don’t think . . .”

  “Come on.” I sped my pace. Not quite running but making a beeline for my family’s home. Our house and attached apothecary nestled itself between our neighbors, in an older neighborhood that bordered the shore, though no boats docked in the area because of the shoals.

  Twig kept pace, jostling townsfolk who weren’t quick enough to step aside. As we closed in, the smoke became thicker, and shouts came from up ahead. I broke into a run, Twig on my heels.

  Turning the final corner, we slammed into a couple men carrying buckets of water. They went sprawling, spilling the water on the cobblestones. They shouted at us, though their words were lost to me. Flames shot from my parents’ roof, engulfing the structure and the neighbors’ as well.

  I didn’t see my parents or brothers in the crowd.

  “They need water, wizard. I’ll check for survivors.” Before I could stop him, Twig darted into the panicked mass straight toward the blaze. Fire wouldn’t burn him, but the structure could still collapse.

  “Twig, wait!”

  An old woman shoved a bucket in my hands. “Quick, lad, we need all hands, no time to gawk.”

  Water, right. Turning, I sprinted toward the beach, dropping the pail. Calling on my magic, I focused on the sea, tendrils of my magic radiating through it. I couldn’t afford to hold off on using magic anymore, even if it meant that the Council of Divine Magic gained a better assessment of my strength. Not worth the possibility of people dying.

  While I excelled at fire and shielding, I’d had little practice with water magic. No time like the present.

  My palms glowed as I called forth the will to capture the water. People nearby gasped as I began to rotate my hands until the energy swirled noticeably around me. Pushing my will forward, the magic followed, arcing into the sea. My mouth filled with the taste of salt and sand.

  A funnel of water formed and shot toward the sky. It shimmered, then broke apart. Burn me! Too soon, too fast. Water didn’t react like fire. It needed finesse. I didn’t have the time to learn.

  Instead, I kept up the motion, harnessing my will and picturing a waterspout. It shot into the air again and wobbled. No, no, don’t break apart.

  After a tense moment, it stabilized. I backed up, one slow step after another, pulling the water with me. Sweat ran down my brow. Don’t lose control. Easier said than done. I tread carefully, the flagstones slippery with water, mud, and things best left unexplored.

  As I stepped closer to the fire, heat singed my back. Townsfolk moved aside for the funnel, though I remained only dimly aware of them, the bulk of my focus on keeping the spout intact.

  What if I doused the houses and they collapsed with Twig inside? Twig! Get out of there! Holding such a large funnel with magic cost me. My arms shook as I waited for an answer. I couldn’t contain it much longer.

  Twig!

  Here! He materialized beside me. I pulled my elbows against my side and rotated toward the fire, jerking the funnel forward and spinning it right into my family home.

  The spout hit the house and its neighbors like a tidal wave. I tumbled in the opposite direction, shoved back from the opposing force of the water. As soon as I stopped rolling, I found myself hefted to my feet, a mostly naked, soot-covered Twig anchoring me as the water crashed around our ankles.

  The fire hissed and died as the water continued to flood the neighborhood, knocking over townsfolk and carrying debris from the now collapsed houses with it. I summoned more magic, my energy sluggish as I gathered what water I could to send back to sea. When I finished, I left behind only small puddles, debris, and mud. My parents’ house lay in a dripping heap of charred wood. A total loss.

  “My family?” My voice came out rusty, and I coughed from the smoke, my body shaking with exhaustion.

  “I’m sorry, Quinn.” Twig’s arms tightened around me. “I found your parents and older brother. Dead.”

  “Dead?” I said, feeling stupid. “Burned?”

  “No. They’d been stabbed.”

  “What? Stabbed? Are you sure?” I leaned back so I could get a better look at Twig’s face.

  “Someone set the fire to cover up their murders.” Twig scowled.

  “Murdered?” My stomach roiled. Why would someone kill them? I swallowed down the bile. “And Zak?”

  “Nowhere to be found.” Twig’s voice remained decidedly neutral.

  I let out a breath I hadn’t been aware I’d been holding. “That’s something.”

  “You sound awfully calm, wizard. You might be in shock.”

  Was I? Perhaps. Everything felt distant, my emotions separate from my body. “You might be right, dragon.”

  We stood, taking in the destruction of what had been my family home. I tried to process that my parents and Mortimer were dead. Murdered.

  “Come on, Quinn, let’s go.”

  “Do you think Zak’s mixed up in this?” My voice rang hollow to my ears.

  “I hope not, wizard. My gut says he’s a good kid.”

  I nodded. Zak couldn’t have done this. I had to believe it. We’d find him. My parents could wait.

  Stepping out of Twig’s embrace, I tugged my soggy knapsack off my back and dug through it. I pulled out a change of clothes for Twig. I’d gotten in the habit of carrying an extra set since after the first time he’d shifted and we hadn’t had any clothing for him to wear afterward.

  “Sorry, they’re a little wet.” I handed him the damp items.

  He dressed, a frown marring his face. “It’s okay to be upset about your parents and Mortimer. I know you had mixed feelings—”

  A finger placed across his lips silenced him. “Not now, okay? I don’t know what I feel. Whatever it is, I need to feel it later. After we’ve found Zak. And dealt with this mess.” I waved toward the ruins of my family’s house. “I . . . I’ll deal with it all then.”

  “Halt!” A loud voice called. “You’re under arrest. We have you surrounded.”

  A group of gray and red uniformed City Patrol officers closed in. The townsfolk had disappeared. The Patrol moved cautiously. Our reputations had probably preceded us. Several held sabers at the ready, though it was the ones holding bows and arrows we’d need to worry about at this distance. I didn’t detect a witch in the bunch. The patrolman who yelled at us, a short stocky guy of middle years, looked to be a long-time employee, his uniform cuffs and red shoulder-braiding frayed. He didn’t seem happy at having to deal with us. Couldn’t blame him. As I said, we were known to bring the drama.

  “Don’t move. We won’t hesitate to fire.” Sounding shrill wasn’t the best way to get his point across. Or maybe it was. I believed he wouldn’t hesitate to stick us full of
arrows.

  I sighed. Arrows could wound Twig’s humanlike form, even though it would violate the Cairnsdaught Accord. He’d go full dragon on their ass so fast it would make their heads’ spin. They’d never have a chance. Besides, if needed, I’d wrap us in a shield that the arrows couldn’t penetrate. Twig and I exchanged knowing glances. To give Twig credit, he didn’t go big, bad protector. Yet.

  “Let’s all calm down.” I raised my hands slowly in a gesture meant to soothe. “Why don’t you lower the weapons, and we can explain?”

  “Are you threatening me?” The patrolman, brandishing a rusty-tipped saber, took a cautious step toward us. Infection would kill us before an actual wound with that thing. Not the cream of the City Patrol crop, then. Figured they’d send the losers to the docks.

  “Why no, officer, we just want everyone to calm down.” Twig and I deserved a medal for our patience.

  He came one step closer. Not bravery, since several saber-wielding patrolmen moved with him. I suppose their caution should flatter us. Instead, I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from shouting at them. My family murdered, Zak missing, and these guys barking up the wrong savage yew tree.

  “Place your hands in front of you. Any sudden moves, and we will strike you dead. You’re under arrest by proclamation of the City Patrol.”

  “For what?” I raised an eyebrow.

  He waved toward what used to be my family home. “Can’t go around burning people’s homes and expect to get away with it.”

  Was this guy for real? Twig chuckled, while I kept my attention on the guard. He’d already shown himself not to be the sharpest sword in the armory. I harrumphed. It would’ve made Auric proud. “We didn’t start the fire. We put it out. And that’s not ‘people’s homes’, that used to be my family’s home until someone lit it up.”

  “Likely story.” His lip curled, and he inched closer. At this distance, I could see his surname stitched over the breast of his uniform tunic. Karyn. “Hands in front now! Last time I’m asking.”

  “Listen, Karyn, I need to speak to your manager.”

  Twig snickered. “You mean ‘commander.’”

  “No, I meant ‘manager,’ dragon. He’s obviously under no one’s command or he wouldn’t be harassing us now. He definitely needs to be managed.”

  “I see your point, wizard.”

  “W-wizard? D-dragon?” Karyn’s eyes grew huge in his doughy face.

  A slow clap rang out behind him. A rangy woman, flanked by several immaculately dressed City Patrol, stepped from the shadows of a neighboring house. All grit and long muscle with a scar running down one side of her face. Not someone to trifle with. If I had any doubts, her hawk-like gaze and predatory gait dispelled that in a snap.

  “I wondered, Karyn. Would you figure it out on your own or would they have to tell you the obvious?”

  “C-commander Graves. I didn’t see you there, ma’am.”

  “No, I’m sure you didn’t.” Graves walked straight past Karyn as the City Patrol scrambled to part for her. She strode up to me, completely unafraid. “Quinn Broomsparkle, I wanted to meet you, but I figured I’d never get the chance. I grew up in Cirrotgod Circle, two blocks over. I knew your family.” She looked around and then turned back to me. “I don’t see them anywhere.”

  “They’re dead. At least my mom, dad, and older brother. Someone killed them and set the house on fire.”

  Commander Graves didn’t respond the way I expected her to. She looked between us and seemed to consider my words carefully. Two short swords gleamed from her belt though she didn’t need them. Her magic crackled around her. Interesting. A powerful witch if I had to lay bets.

  “Where are their bodies?” she asked.

  “In the house. When we arrived, the townsfolk were trying to put out the fire. Being dragonborn, Twig entered the house looking for survivors. There weren’t any.”

  “The water?”

  “My wizard did that.” Twig beamed with pride. “Quinn’s never worked much with water magic before.”

  “I hope I never have to again. It’s hard compared to other types of magic.” My muscles still shook with fine tremors.

  Graves nodded like this was obvious. “And you must be CCM Twig Starfig, Mister Broomsparkle’s familiar?”

  Twig gave an elaborate bow. “Guilty as charged.”

  “Really, dragon? You have to be funny now?”

  Fortunately, Graves laughed. “I didn’t know a familiar could be so humorous.” She snapped her fingers and a beige rabbit hopped over, then stood on its hind legs, waving its forepaws. Graves picked it up. “Mine has a good sense of humor, though she doesn’t tell jokes.”

  “It’s an art form, really.”

  I elbowed Twig. “I don’t mean to rush you, Commander Graves, but I’d like to go . . .” Did I dare tell her about Zak? What if he’d done this? No, I couldn’t be sure I could trust the Patrol. “. . . deal with this,” I finished lamely, waving toward the destruction.

  “You think this may have been a simple burglary gone wrong?” Graves’s voice stayed neutral.

  “I don’t know what to think.” I raked a hand through my hair. Time was slipping away. “I can’t imagine it being random, but it seems senseless. If anything, now that I’ve returned, you’d think someone would try holding my family for ransom. Killing them gets them nothing. Except a pissed-off wizard.”

  “And yet you show up just as the house is burning.”

  “With our luck, it isn’t surprising.” Twig coughed and I glared at him. “I intended to pick up supplies from the apothecary.”

  “Like what?”

  “No offense, Commander. We need to clear away the debris to see if there’s anything salvageable. Can we stop by the outpost afterward? We can answer all your questions then. Or, if you want to cordon this off as a crime scene, we’ll just leave you to it.”

  Anything so we could be on our way. We’d return to the wreckage later. It wasn’t going anywhere.

  Commander Graves raised a hand and a young, pressed and polished officer stepped forward. “Make sure the Council knows what’s happened.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” The young officer saluted and took off at a fast clip.

  “Let’s see what we can do about your home, Mister Broomsparkle.” Graves waved her hand in a few intricate motions, and the City Patrol sheathed their weapons and rolled up their sleeves.

  Basilisk balls. Looked like we were getting some aid. Now we’d have to wait. “The Patrol must have better things to do,” I tried.

  “C-Commander Graves, you don’t believe their crazy story, do you?” Karyn stepped forward, drawing Graves’s attention. “They’re—”

  “Not your concern, Karyn.” She waved at his rumpled clothing, which did little to conceal his paunch. “A day’s honest work wouldn’t hurt you any. Join the others. Now.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Karyn saluted, while glaring at us, but did as his commanding officer directed.

  “Thank you, Commander. I appreciate the offer.” I exhaled. Under any other circumstances that would be true. “But we can handle it—”

  “Let’s see what we unearth, huh?” She didn’t smile, her eyes a little too discerning.

  Well, storm and thunder, we were stuck.

  Twig placed his hand at my elbow and leaned in close. “You don’t have to participate, Quinn. If it’s too painful . . .”

  “Yeah, yeah, I do.” If we’re stuck here, then I need to know what happened and why. They deserve that.

  I’m not sure that’s true, wizard. He squeezed my elbow.

  Point taken. If I thought their deaths would wipe out my anger, I was sadly mistaken. Yet I wasn’t like them and I had an obligation to myself and to Twig to be better than that. So, maybe I deserve that. Plus I hope it’ll give us a clue to Zak’s whereabouts.

  Twig granted me a crooked smile. “Starfig Investigations at your service.”

  20

  An hour into sorting through the rubble, a company of cit
adel guards arrived with Rei Vosen at their head and Cora only a step behind. Some of the guards began to set up an area with food and drink, as others joined the melee and greeted the City Patrol.

  Rei Vosen watched as Commander Graves and I climbed from the destruction and approached. Twig wandered my way. I shook my head. They sorely needed his muscle since he easily had the strength of any five men and only Graves had magic at her disposal. Didn’t the Patrol have a team of witches for disasters? Twig’s displeasure rang in my head for a second before he turned back and began hauling more debris from the wreckage.

  Both Graves and I were covered in muddy soot, sweat soaking our clothing. We smelled ripe. Vosen didn’t even blink. Cora didn’t wait any longer, throwing herself into my arms and squeezing me tight.

  “I’m so sorry, Quinn—”

  “Cora, please. I told you the role you need to play here,” Rei Vosen’s voice gently chided. Even so, the look she cast Cora’s way left me absolutely certain she was in love with my best friend.

  Cora didn’t acknowledge the rei, nor did she release me. If anything, she gripped harder.

  “You’re getting your finery dirty.” I couldn’t help but tease, even if my voice came out hoarse from breathing ash.

  “Because that’s always my first concern,” she mumbled into my shirt.

  So refreshing not to have to explain my screwed-up feelings about my family and to know that she’d get it.

  “At first I thought your magic . . .” She peered up at me, worry lines etched on her forehead.

  I sighed. “My magic is fine. I put out the fire with water from the docks. A water spout. You don’t have to worry—”

  “Quinn, that takes a lot of magic.” Cora gripped me tighter. “You could have lost control.”